Not Just Good for Goodness’ Sake

Not Just Good for Goodness’ Sake

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. – Colossians 3:17

Last week the congregation I serve joined with over 20 congregations and members of our community to pack over 3 million meals for starving children around the world with Feed My Starving Children. It was an incredible experience.

It’s awesome that so many starving children around the world are going to be fed. It’s awesome that so many people came together to give so generously of their time and money to make it happen. But it’s more than that.

This is incarnation. This is God in flesh, the Body of Christ. This is God’s work with our hands. And it’s a part of our witness to the world of God’s amazing love for all people. We didn’t do it just because it’s the right thing to do. We’re not about doing good for goodness’ sake alone. We did it because we’re Christ-followers. We seek to do what Jesus did, to love as Jesus loved.

And that’s important because so many people have negative expectations about Jesus and the Church today. They think it’s all about an angry God who hates sinners. They think it’s all about judgement and division and who goes where after they die. But that isn’t the Messiah who has come. That isn’t the Jesus that we follow. We follow the One who came to bring life, and abundantly for all.

My heart sings that thousands of children will not die from starvation. My heart sings that mothers and fathers will get to kiss their children goodnight. And my heart sings because in it all Jesus is glorified, Jesus is known as the Lord of love and life. Thanks be to God!